Ah, Chinese New Year. It’s the time of family reunions, ang pows (red packets), and heartwarming movies.
Besides the good ol’ Stephen Chow movies on cable television (i.e.: “Kung Fu Hustle” and “Shaolin Soccer”), this year boasts a slew of pretty promising Chinese New Years movies that might just bring laughter to the whole family. Don’t know what to watch this festive season? Here’s a list to help you out:
1. Kung Fu Yoga (功夫瑜伽)
- Release Date: 26th January 2017
- Director: Stanley Tong
- Cast: Jackie Chan, Aarif Rahman, Lay, Shang Yuxian, Sonu Sood, Amyra Dastur
This Chinese New Year, international superstar and Oscar-winning actor Jackie Chan teams up with uprising actor Aarif Rahman for an exciting action-comedy film. “Kung Fu Yoga” sees Jack, a Chinese archaeologist professor, and his team locating the lost Magadha treasure. Starting their adventure in a Tibetan ice cave, where they are ambushed by a descendant of rebel army leader, they make their way to Dubai to obtain the diamond from the ice cave that is being auctioned. Jack and his team then travel to an Indian temple, using the diamond as a key to unlock the real treasure waiting there.
2. Love From Kampung (今年不回家)
- Release Date: 26th January 2017
- Director: Silver Yee
- Cast: Jack Lim, Jeff Chin, Emily Chan, January So
“Love From Kampung” is a heartfelt Malaysian film that surrounds around the idea of family. It centres on a group of long-time friend who have been not been returning to their kampung (village) to celebrate Chinese New Year for many years. Upset and disappointed, the group’s parents decided to visit their children in the city.
3. Journey To The West 2 (西遊2)
- Release Date: 28th January 2017
- Director: Stephen Chow and Tsui Hark
- Cast: Kris Wu, Lin Gengxin, Yao Chen, Lin Yun, Wang Duo
Directed by “King of Comedy” actor-turned-director Stephen Chow and action film wizard Tsui Hark, “Journey To The West 2” tells the tale of the adventures of Tang Monk (played by Kris Wu) and his 3 disciples. This marks the sequel of “Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons”, which stars Shu Qi, Huang Bo, and Wen Zhang.
4. Cook Up A Storm (锋味江湖之决战食神)
https://youtu.be/G4JeIuyRkMU
- Release Date: 2nd February 2017
- Director: Raymond Yip
- Cast: Nicholas Tse, Jung Yong Hwa, Tiffany Tang, Michelle Bai
“Cook Up A Storm” revolves around the rivalry between a Michelin-starred chef (played by Jung Yong Hwa) who was trained in France and a small town chef (played by Nicholas Tse) who is best known for his Cantonese style street food. When a common enemy appears, the film sees the pair form an unlikely partnership, combining their skills in a fusion of East and West.
5. Lucky Fat Man (我要发达)
- Release Date: 2nd February 2017
- Director: Jill Wong
- Cast: Bob Lam, Natalie Tong, Chu Mi Mi, Jacqueline Chong, Lo Hoi Pang, Mak Ling Ling
Chow Chong Fat (played by Bob Lam) and Wat Kam Heung (played by Mak Ling Ling), who knew each other since young, are entering their 10th wedding anniversary. Fat works as the accountant and handy man in his wife’s family restaurant and is always ordered around by his wife’s family members. Fat leads a very miserable life. The only thing that brings Fat out of his rigid and boring life is the reunion with his dream lover Ceci (played Natalie Tong). Without any joy in life, Fat buys a lottery ticket which surprisingly won him the first prize of HKD$20 million. But this is just the start of a whole exciting story…
Which festive movie will you watch this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Sources: Cinema Online, TGV, GSC, Wikipedia / Featured image: Eat x Travel’s Facebook page.
